Fia twirled in front of the mirror, the emerald gown hugging her curves cascading around her in a wave of silk. The rich fabric and extensive beading shimmered under the boutique lights, catching the sun’s reflection as she moved. She adjusted the delicate straps, feeling the dress’ soft touch kiss her skin, each fold and seam whispering promises of elegance and beauty. Her heart raced with a mix of excitement and anxiety; she could feel it in her heart… this was the dress.
“What do you think, Mia?” she turned to her friend, her voice a blend of hope and vulernability.
Mia stood up from her seat on the viewing couch, walking to Fia while crossing her arms, her dark curls bouncing slightly as she smiled. “You look stunning! Emiliano won’t be able to take his eyes off of you.” She stepped closer, eyes twinkling with mischief. “Not that he ever could.”
Fia felt a warm blush creep up her cheeks at the thought of Emiliano’s hot gaze. The way he looked at her made her feel precious and cherished, as if she were the center of his universe. But just as quickly, that warmth faded, replaced by a familiar chill creeping into her thoughts. She remembered the last time a man looked at her with such passion; memories of a past she has fought to escape came flooding back into her mind like a flood tearing through a forest.
“Yeah, well, let’s hope my past stays in the past,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mia frowned, her smile faltering as she noticed the shift in Fia’s mood. “What’s wrong? You’re not still thinking about—”
A deep, commanding voice cut through the quietness of the boutique, sending a bone-chilling shiver down Fia’s spine. “Fia.”
Both women froze, the sound of that voice freezing the very air around them, the sound leaving Fia gasping for a small reprieve of air. her heart raced as she recognized the voice, causing dread to pool deep withing her stomach. She turned slowly, her breath hitching harder as she faced the entrance of the boutique. Standing there, tall imposing and proud, was Viktor, his presence as suffocating as a heat wave.
“Fia,” he repeated, his thick Russian accent, somehow sounded full of relief and an ominous foreboding. His eyes, a piercing shade of blue, locked onto hers, filled with a mix of longing and possession. “I have been looking for you everywhere, love.”
Viktor stepped further into the boutique and Fia instinctively took a step back, her body tensing as memories of their tumultuous past rushed back. “What are you doing here, Viktor? How did you find me?” The words slipped out with a hint of defiance, but they still trembled with fear.
Viktor, ignoring Fia’s tone, flicked his gaze to Mia his eyes narrowing dangerously. He took a step forward, a low growl rumbling from his throat. “Who is this?”
“A friend,” Mia shot back, planting herself between Fia and Viktor, her posture defiant as if to challenge him. “You need to leave. Right now.”
Viktor’s expression hardened even more, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “Stay out of this. Fia is mine and we have unfinished business.”
Fia felt an anger swell within her, mixing with the fear that had taken root in her stomach. She wouldn’t let him come into her life and ruin it again, she couldn’t. “We are not together Viktor, and I don’t have anything to say to you. Just go!” Fia demanded.
He took another step toward the women, his frustration palpable. “I’m not leaving here without you. You need to listen to me and come—”
“Fia, let’s go,” Mia urged, her grip tightening around Fia’s hand, warmth and strength radiating from her friend. “We don’t need to engage with him. You can bill the card on file for the dress.” Mia barely spared a glance at the clerk at the counter, her eyes never left Viktor.
In a blur, Viktor was closing the distance, his expression morphing into something more primal the moment he was close enough to touch Fia, something desperate and crazed. “I won’t let you walk away with him.” He gestured wildly toward the door, where a group of shoppers had paused, their curious eyes drawn to the escalating tension but far enough to make a quick exit should things go bad. “You don’t know what he’s capable of.”
Fia felt a burning surge of defiance course through her. “No one could be worse than you Viktor… just stop!” she shouted, her voice cutting through the murmurs of onlookers. The attention was overwhelming, but she pushed through the discomfort, feeling the adrenaline spike. She couldn’t let up, if she did there was no telling what he would take control of then. “I don’t belong to you.”
Viktor’s jaws clenched, and Fia could see a flicker of rage in his eyes, those blue eyes that hid a beast behind them. “You think I will just let you go? You’re mine, Fia! You always have been always will be.”
The weight of his words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Fia felt her pulse quickening, the familiar ache of the past pain and old scars Viktor had inflicted clashing with the fierce need for freedom. “Not anymore,” she managed clearly, her voice stronger than she truly felt, but her heart thudded painfully in her chest, knowing she was doing the best thing for her.
For a moment, the boutique was silent, the finality of Fia’s words settling over everyone and then the world began to fade, the noise of Viktor’s breathing and the commotion outside becoming a dull hum. Fia could only focus on the growing pressure between the three of them. Suddenly, the bell above the boutique door chimed, and Emiliano strode in, his presence commanding attention as he excused himself pass the onlookers and took in the scene. Sending a slight nod to the clerk, Emiliano turned his gaze onto his mate, his concern showing through his calm demeanor.
“Fia? Is everything okay?” The concern in his tone was filled with warmth, and it gave Fia a sense of relief as she took in his presence.
“Mr. Bianchi, stay back! This isn’t a man, it’s a wild animal,” Mia warned, stepping closer to Fia as if creating a protective barrier but it was too late.
Viktor’s eyes began to glow an electric blue as he shifted his focus to Emiliano, hostility radiating from him. “And who are you to interfere?”
Emiliano stood tall, his demeanor unyielding, confidence radiating from him like a shield. “I’m her date for the ball my family so graciously invited your family to, Sidorov. And I won’t allow you to intimidate her.”
The two men exchanged heated, silent glares, a battle of wills igniting the air around them. Fia could feel the energy crackling, a tension so thick it left her breathless. Emiliano’s presence grounded her, but Viktor’s ferocity made her pulse quicken in unease.
“If that reasoning wasn’t good enough, I’d like to offer that causing problems in someone else’s territory is dangerous.”
Viktor’s face twisted in fury, anger coiling around him like a dark snake poised to attack. “And if I don’t? You think you can protect her from me? She’s mine!”
“Not anymore,” Emiliano replied coolly, stepping forward, his gaze unwavering, a rock in the storm. “Let her go, Sidorov.”
In that moment, the air grew thick with emotion, the weight of choices, memories and desires pressing down on Fia’s shoulders. She was a pendulum swinging between her past and what could be her future. “Fia!” Viktor shouted, desperation and pleading crept into his tone. “Don’t you remember what we had? What we could still have?”
Fia’s breathing stopped, her heart now a battlefield of conflicting emotions. Taking a deep breath, finding the strength to fill her voice amongst the chaos of her mind, the truth bubbling up from the depths of her being. “I only remember the pain, Viktor and I won’t go back to that.”
Mia squeezed her hand, a lifeline amidst the storm. Emiliano’s steady gaze stayed locked on Viktor, unwavering in its intensity.
“Choose,” Viktor all but growled out. “Choose who you want to be with.”
Fia’s heart calmed as the weight of her answer settled in her mind. She looked between the two men, each representing a different chapter in her life. “I choose my freedom… I choose me.”
In that moment, a flicker of realization crossed Viktor’s face—anger mixed with fear, fear of losing the only thing that was ever truly his—and for a second, vulnerability broke through his steely façade. With one final glare and growl directed towards Emiliano, Viktor turned on his heels and stormed out of the boutique, the bell chiming sharply behind him, leaving a stunned silence in his wake.
The moment Viktor left the boutique it was like a rush of air found its way into Fia’s lungs, her body trembling from the confrontation as the adrenaline began to wear off. Emiliano quickly rushed to her side, concern etched into his handsome face. “Fia, are you okay?”
She nodded, though fear still clung to her, refusing to release her even though Viktor was gone. “I think so. I just—I just need to get out of here.” She whispered softly to Mia.
Mia wrapped an arm around her friend’s shoulders, warmth and comfort surrounding her lovingly. “Let’s get you changed first and then we can head home… you did good Fia.”
Mia led Fia towards the back of the boutique where the dressing rooms were location, sending a thankful look in Emiliano’s direction. He nodded and smiled, hoping to convey that protecting his mate was really no bother. When the two women shut themselves in the dressing room, Emiliano went about resetting the boutique and letting the clerk know that the emerald gown and the gold one he had ordered earlier were to be put on the Bianchi tab. And then without another word to anyone, Emiliano strode out as quiet and confidently as he came in.
Fia looked for him the instant Mia opened the dressing room door, she had wanted to thank him for his help and apologize for causing him any trouble but he wasn’t there… he had left without so much as a good-bye. Embarrassed, Fia wouldn’t dare look at the clerk or any of the guests who were watching her with curiosity. Not missing a beat, Mia slipped her arm into Fia’s and gave her a wide smile.
“Screw them,” Mia mouthed.
As they walked out of the boutique, the air felt different—lighter, almost electric with possibility. Fia’s mind flashed back to the moment she saw herself in the mirror, the ball gown flowing around her hugging her body in the right places like the promise of a new beginning… hopeful. Fia could feel the weight of her past beginning to slowly lift, replaced by a determination that ignited her spirit. After today Fia knew she could handle anything…